Chapter 8: The Day a Dog Chased My Destiny
After managing to bath like an injured soldier, I decided I couldn't die inside the room.
Small fresh air wouldn't kill me, I thought.
So I put on my T-shirt (which refused to fit properly because of my sore body) and walked outside slowly, like somebody escaping from hospital.
The sun was shining small-small.
Birds were singing.
Children were playing ampe in the street.
I thought to myself:
"Ah, finally. A peaceful day!"
Biggest lie of 2025.
Just as I reached the junction, I saw it.
One big, fat, brown dog sitting lazily near the kiosk.
Normally, I'm not afraid of dogs.
But the way this one looked at me... it was personal.
It raised its head slowly.
Sniffed the air.
Then stood up like a soldier receiving orders from above.
I froze.
Our eyes locked.
For one second, there was peace.
Then — BOOM!
The dog charged at me like I owed it money from 1992.
"Heyyyyyyy!" I screamed and started running.
Forget waist pain, forget knee pain — adrenaline entered my body and I took off like Usain Bolt being chased by debt collectors.
The children playing ampe paused and started cheering:
"Run, uncle, run!!"
I didn't look back.
I just ran.
Slippers flapping.
Sweat pouring.
Breath finishing.
The dog was behind me, barking with excitement, tongue hanging out like it was also enjoying the race.
One woman frying bofrot on the roadside almost threw her pan at me thinking I was stealing something.
Finally, I spotted a small kiosk and dived behind it, heart pounding like talking drums.
The dog stood at the corner, wagging its tail as if to say:
"Next time, respect me when you pass."
When it finally got bored and walked away, I limped back home with the small dignity I had left.
As I sat back on my bed, sweating and panting, I said to myself:
"Samuel, you have survived tro-tro, mosquitoes, broken pipes, rain, wall climbing — and now, dog Olympics. Truly, you are a warrior."
End of Chapter 8